Sugar Plum Fairies and Snow Queens

Our December has been packed with holiday goodness.  We've had a busy season with all things Christmas - and it has only gotten more fun each year with Amelia's eyes lighting up with excitement.  Amelia and her friend Hadley have taken ballet and tap together on and off over the last few years (I think since they were ~18mos old!) and last year we took them to The Nutcracker Ballet.  As young as they are, the girls really enjoy it - we decided to go again this year.

Both girls were very attentive, had lots of questions (Amelia was determined to figure out which one was the Snow Queen as compared to the Snowflake Princesses), and were shushing anyone that spoke around us.  Quite hilarious.  There was an adorable 2 year old little girl wearing a tiara in her tutu dancing in the aisle the entire ballet.  She was very serious and it was incredibly sweet.

 All Dressed Up

Snowflake Dance

 Super excited to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The Polar Express

Niles Canyon Railway out near Fremont has their own "Polar Express" - a holiday train of lights.  Last Saturday we met our good friends the Kearns - they recently moved to the East Bay - to enjoy the train of lights and some holiday cheer.  

All were dressed in festive attire, Santa and Mrs. Clause came to greet the kids, and our group had quite the spread.

Amelia and Brady enjoyed PB&Js, hummus, veggies, fruit and cheese - with dessert of hot cocoa, marshmallows and cookies.  Thanks to the Kearns the adults indulged in a variety of Cowgirl Creamery cheeses, fresh bread, meats and so many other goodies, we barely made a dent.  Oh, and wine.  There is always wine.

I think we'll make it a tradition...

 

Up To No Good....

Menlo Children's Christmas Party

'Tis the season for the holiday festivities!  We were fortunate to attend Menlo Country Club's Children's Christmas Party again this year.  The party included pictures with Santa, elves, dancing to Christmas music, balloon animals, a children's show complete with a unicycle, a delicious dinner and an amazing dessert bar.

Of course Amelia wanted the "pink" (read: peppermint) ice cream with gummy bears.  Go figure.  

Audrey had her first bite of ice cream (from my own sundae) and both girls loved spending time with their extended family which included Ellie and Papa (the hosts), Uncle Scott and Aunt Kelly, Aunt Lisa and boyfriend Ted, and Ellen's brother Bill and his wife Lisa with their 3 girls - Erin, Claire and Jane.  Amelia sat with Jane at dinner and they had the best time.  

Sushi!!

Lisa and her boyfriend Ted were in town for the weekend, so we decided to throw a sushi party with Scott and Kelly.  Everyone brought over some of their favorite fish for sushi, and then we made more rolls than we could eat.  Whenever this group gets together, we are notorious for having a great time and consuming too much wine!

Teddy Bear Tea

Our second annual Teddy Bear Tea with the Bullock ladies was a perfect way to start off the holiday festivities!  The event is hosted at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco and the hotel is decked out for Christmas.  The girls had so much fun looking at the decorations, visiting with Ted E. Bear, being entertained by the elves, playing with their new bears and balloons, and eating fun "tea" snacks.  Oh, and sipping countless cups of hot cocoa with marshmallows.

 Taylor, Amelia and Elodie

After the tea, we walked up to the top of Nob Hill to the Fairmont.  They have the West Coast's largest gingerbread house.  You could walk through it!  The girls ooohed and ahhhed at all the candies that made up the display.  We had a hard time convincing them to leave when it was time to head home!

'Tis the Season